The 23rd edition of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie (RVF) is taking place this year from March 1-30.
In P.E.I., there will be safe and secure celebrations held across the province with a variety of community, school and online activities for all age groups.
Every one of the events will be presented in a COVID-friendly manner and guests are reminded to bring their masks.
RVF is part of the events surrounding the Journée Internationale de la Francophonie on March 20, which is organized every year around the world to promote the French language and its numerous cultural expressions.
As part of Francophonie month, the RVF has a program of French-language activities, shows and cultural events across the Island.
Beginning March 1, the first week will be filled with events kicking off the month ahead, starting with a giant snow sculpture competition in the Evangeline region. Prizes will be awarded for the best sculptures and for those that best represent the RVF theme for this year: Acadia, at the heart of my country.
On March 5, La Belle-Alliance invites the public to Summerside for an opening activity, a meal and the screening of the documentary film Acadie de l'Île: hier, aujourd'hui et demain. This film, which was produced as part of the Acadie 300 P.E.I. celebrations, will be presented alongside panelists who participated in the filming and represent three of the six francophone partner regions. This presentation will also take place at the Carrefour de l'Isle-Saint-Jean in Charlottetown on March 12 and will be available at rvf.ca for the duration of the Rendez-vous de la Francophonie 2021.
This year’s theme aims to promote the contribution of Acadians to the Canadian cultural fabric and to recognize the historical presence of Acadians across the country. This theme and Acadian traditions as a whole will be strongly integrated into provincial programming this year. Among these is the popular tradition of la Mi-Carême, which will be celebrated March 9, with a presentation by Georges Arsenault at the Pavilion de l’Est in Rollo Bay and streamed online. There will also be a Mi-Carême “5 à 7” family event March 12 at the Village Musical Acadien and a third Mi-Carême social event March 13 by the Francophones of l'Age d'Or.
On March 14, the Musée Acadien de l'Î.-P.-É. in Miscouche will host a museum talk about traditional Acadian songs and how they have evolved over time followed by the Entrepreneurs Gala at the Village Musical Acadien, for the presentation of eight awards and special recognition to deserving business people from the Island's francophone community.
To celebrate the International Day of La Francophonie on March 20, the Confederation Centre of the arts, in partnership with the Fédération Culturelle presents Partons, la mer est belle, an evening of classic French melodies, Acadian songs and cabaret-style songs with Jacques Arsenault who will be accompanied by Morgan Saulnier.
Friday, March 26, is the Acadian Kitchen Party at the Carrefour de l'Isle Saint-Jean in Charlottetown with food, entertainment and storytelling by Noëlla Richard. Later that weekend, Rendez-vous at the Centre Acadien Grand-Rustico on Sunday, March 28 for great outdoor activity, a snowshoe hike and campfire under the full moon on the Trail of our Roots.
During these celebrations, the public is invited to participate in a wide variety of community activities, including concerts, talks/lectures, culinary events, and outdoor activities. But, there are also more than 20 virtual activities and contests, such as the virtual dance with DJ Bones organized by Bienvenue Évangéline, the launch of playful video vignettes of La Francophonie by the Conseil acadien du Grand-Rustico, family activities presented by the libraries of P.E.I., live art activity by Canadian Parents for French, shows, film screenings and more. The complete list of activities is available at rvf.ca.
